Aim: To determine the effects of the efforts towards improving the status of neonatal transport on transport conditions and mortality rate of newborns
who were referred to Diyarbakir Children’s Diseases Hospital, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Material and Method: The transport conditions of newborns referred to NICU between March 1, 2007 - August 31, 2007 (1st period, Group 1)
and between January 1, 2008 and April 30, 2008 (2nd period, Group 2) were determined and the differences between the two periods were
compared in terms of medical and paramedical findings after efforts for improvement (etics committee approval: 28.02.2007). Social Package for
Social Sciences (SPSS) 11.5 program was used to analyze the data. Student's t and chi-square tests were used for statistical evaluation.
Results: A total of 1525 patients were hospitalized in the first period whereas 927 patients were hospitalized in the second period. Diagnoses
and demographic characteristics of infants were similar in both groups. After the efforts carried out for improving neonatal transport, the 2nd group
had a higher incidence of positive findings, such as presence of pre-transport communication, detailed discharge report, birth report, gender and
identity, using of ambulance and transport incubator, proper use of intravenous fluids, the frequency of intubation of patients needing to be
intubated. The frequency of hypothermia, hypoglycemia, hypotension and circulation disorder was found to be lower in the 2nd group. Transport
Risk Index of Physiologic Stability-TRIPS score (20.07±13.41 vs 12.89±11.53; p<0.0001) and mortality rate (18.4% vs 14.1%; p=0.007) were
significantly higher in infants in the 1st group.
Conclusions: In Diyarbakir region, neonatal transport conditions markedly improved as a result of efforts for rehabilitation of conditions.
Constitution of regional neonatal transport systems in our country should be approached as an emergency action plan in basic healthcare
policies. (Turk Arch Ped 2011; 46: 188-93)